Paula Brehm-Heeger, third from left, at the Nov. 7 reopening of the Avondale branch of the
Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library with community members.
Libraries have always been a big part of Paula Brehm-Heeger’s life.
She has worked in public libraries for more than 25 years, and served the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library since 2018. Prior to returning to her hometown of Cincinnati, she worked for the Indianapolis Public Library, Anderson (IN) Public Library and the Kansas City (MO) Public Library. She is active in leadership across the region, having served as a member of Hamilton County’s Commission on Women and Girls, CET’s Community Advisory Board, The Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio, the USA Regional Chamber’s Alumni Network and as a board member for the Ohio Library Council.
This year, Brehm-Heeger was named the Librarian of the Year by the Ohio Library Council.
With a focus on expanding access and driving innovation, Brehm-Heeger is a passionate advocate for public libraries and their essential role in building connections, offering opportunities for learning and providing enjoyment for all members of our community. She oversees the community’s 40 public library branches, a Downtown Main Library, and a Distribution Center, serving more than 800,000 people.
We checked in with Brehm-Heeger after this week’s reopening of the renovated Avondale branch, and ahead of this Saturday’s Books by the Banks Festival at the Main Library.
How have you seen library use increase since the expansion has opened?
When the South Building re- opened in July 2024, the Main Library experienced a surge in growth. In-person visits increased 37% in 2024, despite the new building being open for only part of the year and were 35% above the prior year in 2025. The table below illustrates the growth. Our 2026 totals aren't final since we still have a few more weeks left in the year, but as of this writing we have already seen 576,631 in-person visits.
Main Library - In-person visits
2024: 462,035
2025: 581,218
Growth extends beyond building traffic. PC sessions increased 9% in 2024 and another 24% year over year in 2025. Programs held on the 1st floor of our South building were up 45% in 2025, while attendance at those programs was up 74%. Wi-Fi use also expanded significantly. In July 2025, Wi-Fi sessions were 33% higher than July 2024, total session time increased 89%.
Original circulation (items checked out from the Main Library) this year is already above 200,000.
Although the answer above focuses on the Main Library, growth is system-wide. Since our 10-year Facilities Master Plan began in 2018/2019, we have renovated, refreshed or rebuilt 25 of our 41 public locations. Three more will open in 2027, bringing the total to 28 locations with significant facilities improvements. The results show: so far in 2026, original circulation system-wide is over 3.7 million, total circulation is 16.5 million, and we have welcomed more than four million visits across our county-wide Library system.
What’s the most important thing libraries bring to a city?
Public libraries provide an opportunity for, as we say at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, “Minds of All Kinds.” They are places of learning, exploration, opportunity and connection where everyone is treated with dignity and respect and can decide for themselves what they want to read and how they want to learn. A public library is one of the few places where everyone from all walks of life is welcome, regardless of age, income, background, or circumstance. People come for books, of course, but they also come to learn something new, get help with technology, find resources for school or work, attend a program, meet with others, or simply have a place to be. At their best, libraries help people discover their own potential and that of their community.
Cincinnati has one of the busiest library systems in the country. Why do you think that is?
Our history is a big part of the answer: our roots in this community stretch back more than 170 years.
Cincinnati and Hamilton County is also home to people who love to read and who celebrate literature and the arts. Our neighborhood-based system lets each location anchor its community. The Avondale Branch Library, a Carnegie library that reopened on Nov. 7 after a renovation, has stood in the same spot for more than 110 years, so generations of residents know it well.
We heard the same thing again and again about memories and the importance to entire family of the Public Library at library openings and re-openings over the past eight years. We are committed to high-quality, industry-best service, and we are deeply grateful for the taxpayer and community support that lets us offer modern, welcoming spaces stocked with the latest books and materials, including eBooks and eAudiobooks. History, accessibility, strong community support excellent service and a willingness to keep evolving explain why Cincinnati & Hamilton County remains one of the busiest public library systems in the country.
What are some new programs that you couldn’t have imagined 10 or even five years ago?
Our renovations have made larger-scale events possible, especially at the Main Library. This year we hosted at Main bestselling authors R.L. Stine, Nicholas Sparks, Matt Dinniman and Maggie Stiefvater (Matt and Maggie in partnership with Joseph Beth Booksellers), among others, and we are now able to host the upcoming Books by the Banks book festival at the Main Library, too.
The new staircase at Main doubles as a stage, so an audience of more than 500 can comfortably attend an author talk. When Eric Litwin visited, the Main Library atrium filled with hundreds of children, families and caregivers who sang and danced as back-to-school season began. I would be remiss not to mention the growing interest in our technology and Makerspace areas and the associated programming. Entrepreneurial community members are eager to learn how the Library can support their small business ideas through marketing, grants and networking events. Embracing technology programs and access to Makerspace machines is something I never would have imagined would become such an essential part of learning our community wants and needs from the Public Library.
The Library is also finding new ways to reach people through off-site and pop-up programming and community partnerships. Ten years ago, people might not have immediately thought of the Library being present at community events and festivals but increasing libraries are meeting our community where they are to introduce individuals to all their modern public library has to offer.
What's your favorite part about being a librarian?
Gosh, it really is hard to name just one thing! I started working in public libraries in 1990, after having been a frequent visitor as a latchkey kid during my childhood. Right away I appreciated the freedom, potential and the true joy of helping others find just the book or bit of information they wanted or needed.
Learning and reading can ignite passion and growth in people like nothing else. Having the privilege to continue the opportunity to introduce public library service and support across generations in our great county is an honor that tops the list of my favorite things.
